Tiffany & Co’s new ‘Bird on a Rock’ collection nods to a 1965 classic

What makes Jean Schlumberger’s jewellery so enduring is its ability to make the familiar feel new. Nature, movement and the unexpected were recurring influences throughout his work, translated into forms that could feel at once delicate and surreal, precise and full of life.

It is an instinct that can be seen in ‘Bird on a Rock’, first conceived in 1965 after Schlumberger encountered a yellow cockatoo during his travels across Asia and the Caribbean. A diamond-set bird perched atop a cabochon of lapis lazuli became one of the designer’s most celebrated creations – and, more than six decades later, remains a starting point for new interpretations of his imaginative vocabulary.

For Tiffany & Co.’s latest collection, ‘Bird on a Rock’ is reinterpreted across fine and high jewellery under the creative vision of Nathalie Verdeille, Senior Vice President, Chief Artistic Officer, Jewellery and High Jewellery. The new designs move between figuration and abstraction, drawing on the ideas of flight and natural form that have long defined the motif.

In the new figural pieces, hand-sculpted and polished 18ct yellow gold birds are brought to life through subtle chevron engraving and individually set diamonds. The nonlinear arrangement of stones across the body and head creates a sense of movement, while the sculptural forms give the birds an almost animated presence.

Elsewhere, the ‘Wings’ designs distil the idea of flight into an abstract composition. In the yellow gold ‘Wings’ ring, individually crafted 18ct gold wings nestle into one another, creating rhythm and dimension. For the new ‘Feathers’ high jewellery suite, the language becomes more intricate still: platinum, 18ct gold and diamonds are shaped into compositions inspired by the softness and fluidity of plumage.

This approach reflects a defining quality of Schlumberger’s work: rather than simply reproducing what he saw, he transformed natural forms through precious materials, allowing them to become something unexpected. Schlumberger’s own creative practice was shaped by his connections to art, design and craft, long before he became a jeweller, including his collaboration with Elsa Schiaparelli on whimsical buttons for her namesake brand’s collections.

That sensibility feels at home within the contemporary art landscape, where the boundaries between disciplines and materials continue to shift. At Frieze London, Tiffany & Co. is the Official Partner of the annual ‘Artist-to-Artist’, which focuses on pairing established and emerging talents – this year including Yinka Shonibare and South African artist Unathi Mkonto – and exploring new ways of seeing and making. In this context of cross-disciplinary pollination, Schlumberger’s work offers a natural point of reference, occupying a space somewhere between ornament, sculpture and the natural world.

For Wallpaper*, that idea became the starting point for our photography shoot. Drawing on key influences from Schlumberger’s world – texture, movement and nature – the imagery places the jewellery within considered compositions and tactile surroundings. Materials and surfaces become part of the story, creating a visual language that feels expressive and contemporary while allowing the craftsmanship of each piece to remain firmly in focus.

More than 60 years after ‘Bird on a Rock’ first appeared, its appeal lies in its capacity for reinvention. Across the new collection, the bird becomes a study in movement, the feather takes on sculptural form, and flight is expressed through the interplay of precious metals. Schlumberger’s original sense of curiosity remains intact – not preserved, but continually reimagined under the creative direction of Nathalie Verdeille.

Discover the latest Bird on a Rock creations at Tiffany & Co.